Chapter 52
" isn't this great Toriko-kun? I'm glad I asked you out!" Aiko exclaimed smiling brightly at him.
" Yeah...it's great" Toriko said ' I thought you were really asking me out on a real Date...' He thought feeling a little disappointed.
Flash back
" Toriko-kun" Aiko said
" Yeah?" Toriko said
" You wanna go out with me tomorrow?" Aiko said looking at Toriko.
" W-What?" Toriko Exclaimed he slowly started to blush looking at Aiko. She stared at him waiting to answer.
" I said you wanna go out with me tomorrow?" Aiko asked again looking at Toriko smiling at him.
Toriko started to blush, he couldn't believe that this woman was bold enough to ask him out! He looked at the woman that he's been having very strong feelings for. Possibly the first day they met.
' Could this mean t...that Aiko Loves me?!' Toriko thought ' and that she wants to get to know me.. Ah! What do I say?! '
" If you're busy tomorrow then—" Aiko started
" I'd Love to go out with you!" Toriko quickly said blushing a bit.
" Great! Then we can go out tomorrow and help out the play!" Aiko said
" huh?" Toriko said he stopped blushing and looked at Aiko giving her a curious look." We're going out to help a play?"
" Yeah, a friend of mine needs help with the props and stuff. That's why I asked you to go out with me to help out" Aiko said
End of flashback
It's not like Toriko was disappointed but he didn't think that Aiko would be a little blunt about these things. The way that she asked him. He really thought she was asking him out on a date. He didn't think he'd be here just helping set up a few things on a stage.
' But I guess it's alright...' Toriko thought glancing at Aiko she was sewing a costume princess dress. While he was hammering a few nails to a prop house.
" The little house is cute! A candy house! " Aiko said looking at the prop house.
" that looks great Toriko-kun!" Aiko said " Rose, I finished the dress for the girl that's playing the princess!"
" Thank you Aiko-San! You too Toriko-San, with your help we were able to finish this on time, I'm sure the kids will love it!" Rose said
" No, problem!" Aiko said
" Rose-San!" A voice said
" what is it Ali?" Rose asked
" it's Sara-San! She's sick! She can't come to the play!" Ali exclaimed " and the understudy is sick too apparently they had something that didn't agree with them"
" Oh, dear that's a problem too...we can't change the date now, the kids are coming this way...Ali is there anyone else that knows the lines of the princess?" Rose said
" I can do it" Aiko volunteered
" Really Aiko-San? Can you really do this?" Rose said
" yeah! it's one of my favorites stories when I was a kid. So I think I can do it" Aiko said
" this is great! We have our princess!" Rose said " let's go to the dressing room!"
They left Toriko alone he let out a sigh. He smiled.
' She's always eager to help out as much as she can...heh' Toriko thought ' Wait! Don't girls like getting flowers when they're on stage and stuff? Should I go and get some for her?'
A few minutes later the audience was full of happy kids. Toriko was in the curtains waiting to see Aiko.
" Toriko-kun, how do I look? I was lucky that the dress fits me too" Aiko said wearing a princess dress With a black wig on.
Toriko froze looking at her. He felt himself heat up by the way that she looks in that dress. He only nod because he couldn't find the words.
" Oh it's starting I better go!" Aiko said
" Yeah! I'll be here!" Toriko said
Toriko watched from the sidelines of the play. He watched the play wondering when is Aiko's scene. He was just watching there, while eating a few of the snacks they had backstage.
"Magic mirror on the wall, who's the fairest one of all?" Rose asked she was dressed as the Evil queen.
" Fame is thy beauty majesty, but hold a lovely maid I see." Ali said dressed as the magic mirror. " Rags cannot hide thy gentle grace, a las she is more fair than thee"
" Reveal her name!" Rose demanded
" Lips red as the Rose, Hair Black as Ebony, skin as white as snow" Ali said
" Snow White!" Rose scorned at mentioning the name.
Then came Aiko's scene. He was impressed that Aiko knew all of the lines in such little time. Then again she said she heard the stories lots of times. he wouldn't be surprised if she knew it by looked at the first scene.
Meanwhile with komatsu and Tina
" why didn't you tell me earlier Komatsu-kun?!" Tina exclaimed holding her camera
" I'm sorry Tina-San! Ai-chan just told me about it yesterday that she and Toriko-San were helping set up a play! I didn't think I'd have time to go!"
" Where is it? Where's the play?! Oh I smell a scoop!" Tina Exclaimed
" If you'd stop dragging me I'll tell you!" Komatsu said
" It could be over already!" Tina exclaimed
" Tina-San stop pulling my Arm!" Komatsu exclaimed
Back with Aiko and Toriko
It's been almost and hour since the play started.
" You're doing really good out there Aiko" Toriko said
" Thanks!" Aiko said " It's The last scene I'm supposed to just eat the caramel poison apple and fall into the spell. Then after that the prince would come and see me and kiss me to break the curse"
" Wait kiss?!" Toriko exclaimed
" Yeah, a kiss but it's a fake kiss for the play." Aiko said
' I don't think I'd want her kissing anyone...I don't like it...but it's just a play its not real...' Toriko thought
" Oh I'm on now! I'll see you later!" Aiko exclaimed smiling at Toriko.
' I don't think I can handle it. Seeing her kiss someone...' Toriko thought
" Rose-San! There's a problem Ken-San is sick! He has a fever!" Ali said
" What?! Another one of my actors got sick?! We don't have anyone playing the prince and Aiko-San is already doing the scene with the others!" Rose said she looked at Toriko an idea popped into her head.
Back with Tina and komatsu
" This is the place Ai-chan told me it looks like it started a long time ago" komatsu said
" Oh, look! Aiko-chan is playing the princess!" Tina said pointing her camera at the stage. Aiko was in the table decorated as a coffin pretending to be asleep. In her camera she noticed someone familiar walking into the stage. And the narrator telling the rest of the story.
" Is that...Toriko-San?" Komatsu said
" Toriko?! He's playing the prince!" Tina said pointing her camera filming the scene.
' He seems nervous. ' komatsu thought
Back with Toriko and Aiko
On stage
Toriko was dressed as Prince Charming. He was surprised that the costume fit him. He walked nervously on stage. While hearing the narrator talking.
" The prince who had searched far and wide, heard of the maiden who slept in the glass coffin " the narrator said
Toriko walked. He felt his heart beating fast, he knows it's just a play kiss but he never thought that he would be the one to kiss Aiko. When he made his way to the table. He felt knots in his stomach, his palms sweaty. just thinking of kissing her.
' Aiko...I just hope that...you'll like this kiss as much as I'm going to like it...' Toriko thought slightly blushing. He leaned towards Aiko and his lips were touching hers. ' her lips are soft...' He didn't move, he didn't want to part or even stop the kiss.
' I think Toriko-San is taking longer than usual in this scene...is this the first time he kissed Ai-chan? Now that I think about it, I don't think I've seen Ai-chan kiss anyone before.' Komatsu thought he saw Tina filming the rest of the parts of the play.
" Toriko is taking a bit long in this scene..." Tina said " But wow he really is playing the part of the prince. "
' I better...stop but I can't...but I have to...' Toriko thought as he stopped kissing her. He looked at her opening her eyes at first she was surprised that it was Toriko. But she kept on acting and smiled at Toriko. He carried her bridal style, he liked holding her like that. And carried her while she said goodbye to the actors that played the dwarfs.
" and they lived happily ever after" the narrator said
After that the play ended in a success. Toriko was waiting outside for Aiko. He had a slight blush he touched his lips, thinking back on the kiss.
" Toriko-San, Aiko-san will be out in a minute" Rose said
" Thanks for telling me." Toriko said
" I haven't seen her this happy before" Rose said " Not since..." She stopped
" Since what?" Toriko said
" I'm not the one to tell you." Rose said
" is it about her dad?" Toriko said
" Yes, but how did you know?" She asked
" One of her friends told me " Toriko said
" I know that she doesn't want to talk about him, not after what he did." Rose said
" I know that he left for his research ingredient other than that I don't know" Toriko said
" You must really care about Aiko-San to be worried about her" Rose said " I'm sorry but it's not my place to say, I think you should wait until she feels like talking to you"
" Oh okay" Toriko said
Back with Tina and komatsu
" That was great! I got it all on tape! Now I just need to interview the others and then it'll be a good scoop!" Tina Exclaimed
" Yeah, I wonder where they are?" Komatsu said he noticed someone there an older man wearing a beige trench coat. The older man noticed that komatsu was looking so he walked towards the two.
" You're here about the play right?" The older man said " if your looking for your friends they're probably backstage"
" Oh, thank you" komatsu said running towards the back stage.
Leaving Tina alone looking at her camera.
Back with Toriko and Aiko
" Thanks for waiting Toriko-kun!" Aiko said smiling at him
" Yeah, you're hungry? Cause I am!" Toriko said
" Toriko-San! Ai-chan!" Komatsu said
" Komatsu! You're here!" Aiko said
" yeah, I came in late though but the play was amazing" Komatsu said
" I'm glad it turned out so well too" Aiko said " where's Tina-San? I told you that she could come to interview the actors and stuff"
" Oh, she's probably talking to the older man" Komatsu said
" Older man?" Aiko said " the actors here aren't older men mostly around our age"
Toriko,Aiko and Komatsu walked to find Tina. To the chairs and saw Tina.
" Oh, Aiko-chan there was someone here, he told me to give you this" Tina said holding a letter to her.
Aiko looked at the letter, she saw the handwriting in the front of the letter, she held the letter and and stuffed it in her pocket without even reading it.
" Ai-chan...why did you do that?" Komatsu asked
" It's complicated Komatsu...but I do know the man Tina-San...I don't want to talk to him" Aiko said 'not after what he did' she thought. She thought back of that one memory of him.
Flash back
Twelve years ago...
" Mommy! Look!" Aiko said holding a plate of rice balls " I made these for you and daddy!"
" Thank you sweetie " Yuri said smiling at her daughter. " I'll give some to daddy when he's done. "
" He's always busy" Aiko said
" I know sweetie but be patient, as soon as he's done. I'll make your favorite food because today is a special day!" Yuri said
" Yeah!" Aiko said smiling
A few hours later Yuri was out looking for a few things for the meal. leaving Aiko at home, her father was in the next room, Aiko felt lonely.
" Daddy's probably hungry by now...I know I'll make him something to eat!" Aiko said
A few minutes later Aiko opened the door carrying a plate with some rice balls.
" Daddy? I made you something to eat! It's not good working on a empty stomach" Aiko said setting the plate down.
she saw the man that's her father sitting in a chair. Looking at a few papers and reading while mumbling a lot. he wore was a simple cream colored button up shirt and dark brown pants with brown shoes. His hair color is dark brown.
" I'm busy Aiko " he said
" But daddy you need to eat something" Aiko said
" Aiko I'm busy!" He yelled " your interrupting my work! Just go!"
Aiko stopped she started to whimper a bit. She turn to leave him alone.
" Oh, daddy I have to tell you something today is—"
" Aiko! Go to your room your being a pest! " he yelled " I don't want you interrupting my research!"
Aiko ran out of the room crying. Leaving her father alone in his office. Aiko ran outside towards the fruit tree that had a swing on it. She sat down crying.
" Daddy...it's...it's my birthday!" Aiko cried under the tree.
End of flash back
" Aiko? Are you okay?" Toriko said Aiko snapped out of her thoughts looking at Toriko.
" yeah, I'm fine Toriko-kun" Aiko said
Toriko just hugged Aiko. Aiko didn't protest she felt his arms around her body feeling his gentle embrace. He gently ruffled her hair.
" Aiko...I...I..." Toriko started but he couldn't get the words out. Somehow he felt that this wasn't the time to tell her what he felt about her. " I'm hungry lets get something to eat."
Aiko looked at Toriko, she gave him a small smile.
" Yeah, let's get something to eat Toriko-kun" Aiko whispered " You can let go of me now, I feel a bit better, thanks"
" Yeah, just so you know I'm here for you." Toriko said holding her hand.
" You're really sweet Toriko-kun" Aiko said
' Toriko-San really is in love with Ai-chan...I wonder when is he ever going to tell her?' Komatsu thought ' Can't he just go on and kiss the girl already?'
there you have it guys! Please leave a review and tell me what you think!
